You Found WHAT In The Curb Recycling??!! (Not A Mirage)

Sometimes I can't believe what people toss, but I'm ecstatic when I find and save it. This was one of those times, and I had a witness.

I took a baseball teammate out to show him what I do and was having a modest night. I told him that there are good and bad nights, but it always averages out to make it more than worthwhile.

I told him that a slow night means that I need to walk my full route because there have been many times where the last pile on the last block has been the goldmine.

Well, after some decent finds before, including a sizable 18K gold earring, spotting a repeat-seller vacuum part got me to look more closely at a particular pile two stops from the end of the route -- and it was a goldmine!

Poetic.

The stuff below was only about half of what I found at this spot.

Just look at these vintage gems!!

It wasn't their dollar value that got me excited, but the overwhelming nostalgia, joy and childhood memories that were triggered when holding them.

• Original Nintendo NES System
• Contra Nintendo Game
• Nintendo Advantage Controller
• Super Nintendo System
• Nintendo N64 System
• Sega System
• Sega System
• Sega CD System
• Sega Controller
• + Some boring stuff:
  -Bang & Olufsen Answering Machine ($100)
  -2 walkie talkies (TBD)
  -High end audiophile Sony Cassette Player ($175-$200)
  -Computer Graphics Card ($100+)

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While this might seem insane to find for free on my city's curbs, this is normal for me. I have tons of video game systems, recently adding PS Vita and 2 complete Oculus Rift sets last month. Tons. The older units were rather unique though and first time recycling finds.

Testing them will be a blast. I have games for every system somewhere around here from curb or past thrift store hunts.

The green vacuum cap in the top right was the first thing I found, which sold tonight. I also found another tonight that'll sell in a few days. Hopefully it'll be a good omen as I prep to go outside now.

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At this spot, I also found about 40 vintage Lesney Matchbox cars from the late 1960's and early 1970's. Pretty cool. I also found a bunch of Shimano bike parts and some tablets.

My friend had to go home, so I gave him a $90 item to sell, and walked home.

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But wait, there's more!

After combing through what I found, I realized that I made a bad decision by leaving something that I misunderstood. At 6 AM, I got my ass up and literally ran to the spot a few blocks away to see the recycling truck 1 pile away! I got there in time to grab some more quality bike parts for ~$200 more.

Did I go home after that? Nahhhh, I kept going to find a bit more, including a 1967 Tonka firetruck.

When I asked a friend to describe me recently, they said "determined." Seems like she's right.

Proud sleep followed, glad that my friend could experience the rush with me. I felt like a kid again.

My last active post of 11 recycled items sold for $1,219.

Thanks,
Matt

Here's my friend's first find, which he appreciated as a souvenir -- an antique Sterling Silver spoon.